High court voids key part of Voting Rights Act but puts off rulings on gay marriage until Wednesday

Tuesday

Jun 25, 2013 at 11:15 AM

THIS is big:

The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a civil rights law that requires some states to get federal permission to change their voting rules, but it struck down the formula for which jurisdictions are covered — leaving it to Congress to redraw the map.

The opinion was written by Chief Justice John Roberts. The vote was 5-4.

“Our country has changed, and while any racial discrimination in voting is too much, Congress must ensure that the legislation it passes to remedy that problem speaks to current conditions,” Roberts wrote for the court.

Under the law, the Voting Rights ...

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Pat Cunningham

THIS is big:

The Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a civil rights law that requires some states to get federal permission to change their voting rules, but it struck down the formula for which jurisdictions are covered — leaving it to Congress to redraw the map.

The opinion was written by Chief Justice John Roberts. The vote was 5-4.

“Our country has changed, and while any racial discrimination in voting is too much, Congress must ensure that the legislation it passes to remedy that problem speaks to current conditions,” Roberts wrote for the court.